Glenda Ritz lacks background in leadership

Glenda Ritz, Indiana superintendent of public instruction.

I continue to marvel at the sideshow at the Department of Education. Unfortunately, we have a state superintendent who was elected with the support of teacher unions who couldn't get a real candidate to run that might lead the state to a better place in education. That's because they wouldn't be caught dead supporting someone who knows enough to oppose their point of view.

Instead, let's talk about the elephant in the room: We are being led by a librarian (media specialist)! Nothing against librarians (media specialists), but I have had many of them work for me over the years while serving as a school administrator. They are, as a group, wonderful people! However, they are trained to do a certain type of job and "leading" is not what they are trained to do. Nor are they knowledgeable about administrative legal issues and consensus building.

So, I firmly believe she is being led around by the nose by her union lackeys who have her in their pockets. These same lackeys love to file lawsuits and create chaos where none is needed. When they can't bully their way through they always sue and waste everyone's time and money. Lots of money! Even when they know they will lose. They are also the organizations that insist on contracts that make it nearly impossible to fire a teacher, no matter how incompetent. They certainly oppose a grading system of any kind that might shine a light on their incompetence.

There is no doubt that getting a grade for anything can be a difficult time. We have all been there. It is also true that developing the right rubric for determining a grade is the most difficult aspect of any grading system. At the same time, I do not know many teachers who would walk away from giving grades to their students. It helps students know what they need to learn and what they need to do to perform better.

Our schools need that also. We just need a leader in the superintendent's office who knows something more than the Dewey Decimal System and how to follow orders from the unions.